VIDEO: Dawson targeting another cap
Nicholas Veevers
Monday, 07 February, 2011
Centre back wants to build on his two previous appearances.
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Click here to watch the video footage of the press conference.
Michael Dawson is hoping to make his return to international action on Wednesday night, after battling back from an injury which he previously picked up on England duty.
The Spurs defender had managed to break through into Fabio Capello’s team at the start of the season and was enjoying a good run of form with both club and country.
However, an unfortunate knee injury picked up in the win against Bulgaria at Wembley in September saw him ruled out of action for two months and he’s since had to fight his way back into contention.
And with Rio Ferdinand ruled out of the trip to Copenhagen through injury, there could be an opening for Dawson to get his place back in Copenhagen.
“There’s John Terry, Gary Cahill and Joleon Lescott all looking to play as well, so whoever the Manager picks, will want to do well,” said Dawson.
“It’s a massive honour to be back to be honest though. The injury I got was unfortunate and I missed a lot of games for Tottenham, it was a bad time to get an injury but that’s in the past now and we look forward.
“I don’t tend to set myself too many targets, but it’s great to be back part of the England squad and hopefully I’ll get a chance on Wednesday.
“The players that have come in have done well and we have another chance on Wednesday now.
“There are players coming in for the first time and a few with not many caps, like myself, so it’s a chance for them to come in and stake their claim.”
Despite being in and around Capello’s squad for a while now, the 27-year-old still only has two caps to his name and that’s something he is determined to add to.
“I went to the World Cup, didn’t manage to play but then came back and we had Hungary and then Bulgaria in the qualifiers,” he added.
“As a player, I always want to do as well as possible and whenever I put that England shirt on, I want to do as well as I can.
“We’ve got to work towards 2012 now and make sure we’re ready for it.”
One of the new faces that Dawson referred to earlier is that of Kyle Walker, a Tottenham team-mate of his who was named in the Senior squad for the first time at the weekend.
The right-back is currently out on loan with Aston Villa where his performances have caught Capello’s eye and Dawson believes a call-up for the one time Sheffield United man is fully warranted.
“He’s a great lad, a great player and he deserves to be here,” he said, in relation to Walker, who has also represented England at U19 and Under-21 level.
“He went out to QPR in the first half of the season and did well to leave them in a good position. He’s then gone to Aston Villa and got two goals early on, so it’s been a dream start for him.
“He’s a fantastic player, I’ve seen that at Tottenham, but now he’s gone out and is playing regularly in the Premier League and showing that.
“There’s myself and Jermain Defoe from Tottenham and a few Villa faces here as well so he’s nice and relaxed and hopefully he’ll get his debut on Wednesday.”